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Safety footwear must be produced in compliance with special standards imposed by the law for the workers health protection.
In Italy are into force the norms, complying with european law issued in 1993, that distinguish the different types of safety footwear on the base of the risk level. For every class the norm supplies the basic requirements that safety footwear must comply to.
On February 16th 2013 were published, on the Official European Union Gazette, the last amendments to the norms, that have been constantly updated in the past years. The novelties concern the norm EN 20344 2011, replacing EN 20344 2004, related to “Personal protective equipments. Test and safety methods” as well as EN 20345 2011 replacing EN 20345 2004 related to “Personal protective equipments. Safety Footwear”.
Safety Footwear (complying with EN ISO 20345) must be equipped with:
- slip resistant soles (first cause of work accidents);
- with a cap, protecting toes from impacts and crushings;
- midsole protecting from perforation.
The norms state requirements even regarding the electrical resistance, thermical insulation, shock absorption in the heel region and water resistance.
The Footwear produced in compliance with the law are marked with the symbol CE as foreseen by the European Directive 89/686.
Personal Protective Equipments must be easy recognizable due the specific markings , that must also allow the producer identification as well as the production date.
